In keeping with the Yearly Meeting's Policy on Time-Sensitive Public Statements, New England Yearly Meeting has partnered with Friends in Philadelphia and Baltimore Yearly Meetings in a lawsuit challenging new policy changes which would allow immigration enforcement in houses of worship.
Friends and meetings with comments or questions about this action may contact Presiding Clerk Rebecca Leuchak at [email protected] or Yearly Meeting Secretary Noah Merrill at [email protected].
NOTE: Below is a press release issued by Democracy Forward.
In First Suit of Its Kind, Quakers Ask Court to Halt Immigration Authorities from Enforcing in and Near Houses of Worship, Religious Gatherings
Suit alleges new policy violates the First Amendment and other bedrock federal protections
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, a coalition of Quaker meetings, which includes the oldest Quaker meeting in the world, filed suit in the federal court in Maryland to block the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from its abrupt shift in policy that enables federal immigration enforcement officials to enter houses of worship for their immigration enforcement actions. The policy is already sowing fear within migrant friendly congregations and has led to cancellations in worship services out of fear, the complaint states. The suit alleges that the Trump policy violates the First Amendment and other protections.
Plaintiffs, represented in the legal challenge by Democracy Forward, include Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Adelphi Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, and Richmond Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
For decades, the United States has protected sensitive locations, including houses of worship, from immigration enforcement activities, out of a concern that such activities restrain people from receiving essential services and engaging in essential activities, such as worship. Despite these longstanding protections, the Trump administration’s DHS has reversed course and now immigration enforcement operations can be conducted in protected areas like churches and religious ceremonies such as weddings and funerals limited only by DHS’s instruction that they use “common sense.” The suit alleges that presence of armed government agents at or near meeting houses is disruptive to Plaintiffs’ ability to freely associate and worship. The suit also alleges that the abrupt shift in policy violates federal law’s prohibition against agencies of the federal government acting arbitrarily and capriciously.
“A week ago today, President Trump swore an oath to defend the Constitution and yet today religious institutions that have existed since the 1600s in our country are having to go to court to challenge what is a violation of every individual’s Constitutional right to worship and associate freely,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Our team is honored to represent Quaker meetings that have been at the forefront in protecting values of religious liberty for centuries and will urge the court to act swiftly to halt this unlawful and harmful policy.”
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: “Since our yearly meeting’s founding in 1682, and since William Penn arrived in Pennsylvania, we have protected space for Quakers and other religious minorities to practice their religion.. Our faith requires us to do justice, oppose war and violence, love our neighbors (with no exceptions) and to make decisions with everyone in the room. Everyone’s faith requires being with their faith family. The DHS policy impedes all of these things and invades our sacred space and ability to worship freely. We are committed to continuing what we started more than 300 years ago—ensuring that people can practice their religion.”
New England Yearly Meeting: “As the first formal association of Quakers (Friends) in the world, founded in 1661, we know from the persecution of our spiritual ancestors the terrible cost that occurs when religious freedom is violated. Throughout our history, we have sought to live our faith in ways bearing the fruits of justice, compassion, and religious liberty. Friends believe that every human being has the right to come together to worship with those who share their sacred commitments. The policy adopted by the federal government that we are challenging in this case runs counter to this truth and our congregations’ calling to be welcoming to all who seek to worship with us, and violates the Constitution. We are compelled by our faith to be part of this effort to protect religious liberty and freedom of association in religious and worship settings, and therefore to join in this effort.”
Baltimore Yearly Meeting: “Our religious beliefs call us to build relationships across geographical and theological lines. Our membership in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC, and the greater mid atlantic region includes immigrant Friends. The very threat of government officials wearing ICE-emblazoned jackets outside of our religious service will have a significant impact on our communities and ability to practice our faith. We remain committed to our religious command and will use the tools available to defend our membership and faith.”
Adelphi Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends “We remain committed to religious liberty and peace and will use the legal process to ensure that our members and those who meet with us are safe and secure from intimidation, threats, and violence.”
Richmond Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends: “Welcoming and worshiping with all people, including immigrants, is a foundational element of our religious exercise. The federal government’s new policy is anathema to Quaker religious exercise, to all that we believe in, and impinges on our ability to freely exercise.”
Also read this NBC report: Quaker groups file suit over the end of policy restricting ICE arrests in houses of worship